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Friday Stream of Consciousness – 115

I’ve been teaching a class at Pepperdine University this past week. I realize that I still love college kids and teaching.

But…my heart is with the church.

I’m glad the Donald Sterling thing is wrapping up. What a mess.

The Padres drafted well in the first two rounds, in my opinion. Yet, it’s easy to forget making the Major Leagues is the most difficult thing to do in all of sports.

Only 1 in 200 High-School players will be drafted. If you are good enough to be drafted (a highly exclusive club), only 11% of those drafted will throw a single pitch or have a single at-bat in the big show. The odds of having a lengthy or significant major league career? Now we’re into the super tall odds category. So parents, chill let’s chill with the, “My son is the next Mickey Mantle” stuff. It’s possible. But, it’s more likely you’ll be hit by lightning…in San Diego. Let them play the game, have fun, and do their best. Let them learn how to work together with others for a goal. That will increase the odds of them have a better life by a lot.

I keep telling myself I need to see Million Dollar Arm. Maybe this is the weekend.

Our President had a bad week from a PR perspective.

I need a haircut in the worst way.

The Arbinger Institute writes in their remarkable book, Leadership and Self-Deception: “we often can sense how others are feeling toward us, can’t we? Given a little time, we can always tell when we’re being coped with, manipulated, or outsmarted. We can always detect the hypocrisy. We can always feel the blame concealed beneath veneers of niceness. And we typically resent it. In the workplace, for example, it won’t matter if the other person tries managing by walking around, sitting on the edge of the chair to practice active listening, inquiring about family members in order to show interest, or using any other skill learned in order to be more effective. What we’ll know and respond to is how that person is regarding us when doing those things.” (pp. 28-29)

Ask yourself a tough question today: Do I really love the people I work with? Or, do I try to be nice to them so they will work better?

If you were drowning and someone offered you a life preserver, would you shun it because you wanted it to be red? Rigidity, more than circumstance, can be our worst enemy when things are dire.

As of today, I’ll have a pre-schooler, 4th grader, and, gulp, a 6th-grader. MIDDLE SCHOOL?

I don’t like the San Antonio Spurs, but I despise the Miami Heat. So, I’m hoping Ginobli and Parker can out flop James and Wade. This Finals is really a clash of the greatest floppers in the history of the NBA.

And, as of August 3, Emily will have finished her Masters Degree…I’m so proud of her!

Today, let’s focus on our blessings and how richly we’ve received God’s mercy. Whether your week has been good or bad, God is still worthy of praise and we received blessings we may not have noticed when they happened. He is good.

What’s on your mind this Friday?

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Dr. Tim Spivey is Lead Planter of New Vintage Church in San Diego, California. He is the author of numerous articles and one book, "Jesus: The Powerful Servant." A sought after speaker for events, Tim also serves as Adjunct Professor of Religion at Pepperdine University. Tim serves as a church consultant, and his writings are featured on ChurchLeaders.com, Church Executive magazine, Faith Village, Sermon Central, and Giving Rocket.